May, 2023
For #thankfulthursday this month, as I think about artists and art teachers I owe a lot to, I think back to COVID times, when the @theleftbrainartist podcast from @suzanneredmondart made my world bigger instead of smaller. She introuced me to many other artists that I follow and have learned from to this day.
The podcast ended in 2022 as Suzanne redirected her focus to other endeavors, including her own art. And that’s another good lesson – don’t be afraid to move on to the next great thing when it’s time. (But you can still find episodes on any podcast app)
May, 2023
There are a lot of apps now for meditation. Some are really just timers, and some are fully narrated guides with directions about breathing and managing thoughts. They can be lovely journeys, and a good way to get started . . . maybe. My personal challenge, whether meditating or not, is to get quiet enough to hear my own voice amidst all of the other noise in the world. Now timing is another thing. I wish I could say I need a time so that I don’t meditate too long, but it’s really so I don’t have an excuse to keep checking the clock. Nothing fancy, just a nice pleasant alert tone from my phone or tablet so I can come back to myself with a little grace.
April, 2023
I don’t have to go far back at all for this month’s Thankful Thursday Artist. I’m just finishing off the series I worked on during Cat Rains’ Collage Joy on-line course – some final finishing to do, and some good advice to follow as I decide how to mount.
So many things kept me moving through this course when so many others I have signed up for are still waiting. . .
I really appreciated the combination of making papers and making pieces. I really appreciated the “color palette first” approach – color is almost always my spark – and the focus and coherence that comes from finishing the palette.
I’ll take titles more seriously and keep a notebook of marks. I’ll make small studies. I’ll think more about warm and cool.
At least I hope I will!
April, 2023
The Handmade Book Club asked me (!) to present on a Meet the Member call this month, and I’m really excited. And, at the same time, have you ever gone back to something you’ve made and been really confused about exactly how you did it? I’ll be showing a book I made some time ago with a cut-out in the cover that has an iris-folded initial. The pattern comes from Pretty In Paper by B (Etsy store with the same name), but it was written to be used as the front of a card. Not so different, really, from what I did, but I sure am glad I practiced a bit with a new mock-up before the call at the end of this week, or I’d probably be stumped by any questions.
I’ve been so impressed by seeing the work that other members have shown. I wonder if all of them felt like it wasn’t nearly as special as the rest of us thought. The beauty of a supportive community.
April, 2023
What good is mindfulness meditation, which is focused on what’s happening right now, when what’s happening right now isn’t so great? What if right now you’re stuck waiting – waiting for test results, waiting in line, waiting for the tornado warning to expire or the airplane turbulence to pass? Distraction is one strategy, but my worry voices are pretty good at multi-talking. So, I close my eyes, breathe, and fake it til I make it. Follow the breaths, fail, follow them again, fail again . . . . all things must pass . .
